Deck in a drawer

ABSTRACT

A sliding retractable deck assembly is provided for use with recreational-type vehicles. The deck is adapted for use adjacent to and below the vehicle side door and is retractable by sliding back into place under the vehicle so as to be totally out of view and allow total use of vehicle door and all other components of said vehicle. A plurality of individually-adjustable ground-engaging leg members providing at least nine points of support for the deck thus allowing placement of the deck on uneven or sloping ground, while avoiding undue stressing of either the deck assembly or structural components of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to retractable structures useful as accessoriesfor recreational vehicles such as motor homes and the like.

More specifically this invention relates to a self storing, sliding,retractable, full size porch or deck assembly from a position of use infront of a recreational vehicle door to a transport position under thevehicle totally out of view and can be built to meet any size vehiclespecifications. About four different types of deck or porch extensionsfor use with recreational vehicles such as motor homes, campers andtrailers have been proposed. These all have in common the features of asmall floor system for use in a horizontal position and folded orretracted to a stored or transportable position.

One common approach used in the construction is to build a small unit tobe placed in position but not attached to the vehicle and can bedisassembled and stored inside the vehicle.

Another approach is to have the constructed floor attached by a hingesupport and for use in a horizontal position then folded to the side ofthe vehicle and attached, for storage and transport, thus adding to thesize of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides for a retractable, sliding deck assemblyparticularly adapted for use adjacent the side door of a motor home,camper trailer or similar type of vehicle. The deck floor framing isadapted to be attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle and isretractable by sliding to a transport position and kept out of view andkept secure for safe transport. Ten inches of the railing system is keptinside of the undercarriage stowage system for added support andstrength of the deck railing assembly. The floor assembly components arestored in a drawer also attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle.The drawer is constructed to carry all the flooring components and alsobe transported safely to any destination and out of view in a veryconvenient location. The size of this invention can be changed easily toaccommodate any size of travel trailer or recreational vehicle. Nine legstabilizers are used to provide multi-point leveling and support to thedeck assembly. One inch diameter all thread bolts are used to quicklylevel and support the deck railing system, and can be adjusted to anyheight to accommodate for uneven or sloping ground surfaces. Decorativepiping is used to disguise the all thread adjustable legs of theassembly. Decorative lights and railings are strung between piping foran enclosure to the deck.

It is the object of this invention to provide a large deck assembly fora recreational vehicles of any size.

Another object of this invention is to provide a large deck forrecreational vehicles adopted for use on uneven or sloping ground, withrespect to the condition of ground whether it be wet or dry, gravel orsand, paved or cement.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide increased support andrigidity to the floor platform of a movable deck assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a decking assemblythat can be assembled by one person in a minimal amount of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the deck assembly of this invention inits open or use position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the deck railing system in its travel orcarrier position.

FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B is a perspective view of the deck in a drawerassembly as it relates to the actual vehicle to which it is attached.

FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B, and 4C is a view of the clearance specifications of thedeck in a drawer in perspective of the recreational type vehicle towhich it is attached.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the rail carrier tube system with theshell of the vehicle removed for clarity.

FIGS. 6, and 6A is a perspective view of the rail system set up to showit is slid out of the tube system with one swivel trailer jack.

FIGS. 7, and 7A is the rail system detail and spacing of rails.

FIGS. 8, and 8A is an exploded view of the rail system dimension detail.

FIGS. 9, and 9A is a further exploded view of rail system detail of howthe leg system is attached.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the PVC pipe carrier system.

FIGS. 11, 11A, 11B, and 11C is an exploded view of the PVC pipe carrierbracket detail.

FIGS. 12, 12A, 12B is an exploded view of the rail carrier bracket mountdetails and its attachment to recreational vehicles.

FIGS. 13, 13A, and 13B is a perspective view of the box cover andframing details of the drawer assembly.

FIGS. 14, 14A, and 14B is an exploded view of the drawer carrier contentdetail.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the drawer box cover detail.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the drawer box mounting detail.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view on the aluminum floor layout of the deck.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view on the plywood flooring layout of thedeck.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the carpet flooring layout.

FIGS. 20, 20A, and 20B is a perspective view of the stabilizer leglayout.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the Deck in a Drawer final view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is the deck assembly, designated generally adjacent to the sidedoor of the recreational vehicle, is shown in open or use position. Thedeck assembly comprised a floor platform having a structural frameworksupporting its three layers of flooring; comprised of aluminum deckingas first layer, plywood is the second layer and decorative outdoorcarpet as third layer.

-   -   A plurality of ground-engaging leg assemblies to support the        platform and are individually adjustable to accommodate use on        sloping or uneven ground. Details of leg construction are shown        in FIGS. 9, and 9A of drawings. Each leg support extends to the        top of deck floor assembly is covered with decorative PVC pipe,        shown in FIG. 21A, and then a decorative plastic chain is strung        from pipe to pipe for a decorative enclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the deck rail assembly in its stowed positionadjacent and parallel to the side of, and slid under the recreationalvehicle it is attached to. The rail system is locked into position fortravel by a chain or cable attached to the frame of the vehicle as shownin FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates front, FIG. 3A illustrates back, and FIG. 3Billustrates side view of the recreational vehicle clearancespecifications. Deck carrier system will not exceed factory installeddevices such as stabilizer jacks in the fully retracted position. Thedrawer box assembly will not hang below factory installed devices. Thedeck rail and carrier system will not extend in width past any factoryinstalled devices such as the awning assembly. The carrier and drawerassembly size and spacing is determined by the specifications set forthby the factory installed devices and actual size of the vehicle. Thetotal weight of this invention is 425 pounds and will not cause any undostress to the vehicle itself. This invention is designed for the deckand drawer size to be adjusted to work with any size recreationalvehicle.

FIG. 4 an illustrated view of the factory installed stabilizer jacks ina fully retracted position, 4A an illustration of the front view of therecreational vehicle with the factory installed stabilizer jack in fullextension, FIG 4B an illustration further showing the box storage unitand rail carrier in either FIG. A and FIG. C, and FIG. 4C furtherillustrates that the invention was created to exist easily within thevehicles set size and factory installed components. Further, thisinvention was created to accommodate any size vehicle in use today.

FIG. 5 illustrates the bracket and carrier tube system and how it isattached to the frame of the vehicle itself. The shell of the vehiclewas removed for clarity.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the rail system is set up with the use of aswivel trailer jack (FIG. 6A). The rail frame system is lifted andpulled from its stowed position by attaching a swivel trailer jack tothe front rail of the frame support system. This invention was designedto be set up by one person in a minimal amount of time on any terrain.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the rail support systemconstruction. The rail carrier pipes are spaced typically 4 feet apartand the rail system is constructed to slide in and out of the carrierpipes with ease. Ten inches of the rail is maintained inside the pipecarrier for support of the deck rail assembly as illustrated in FIG. 7A.The rail is equipped with a drive pin (FIG. 7A) to prevent the rail fromsliding in the pipe carrier. Pipe carrier is further detailed on FIG. 10of the drawings.

FIG. 8 illustrates the rail system dimension detail. Each rail isconstructed of two metal rails welded in length together to form onerail with the dimensions of 1¼ inch high and 2½ inch wide and 8 feet 5inches long. The two outermost rails one on the left and one on theright of the deck rail assembly is drilled and equipped with a 1 inchcenter nut as shown in FIG. 8A welded in placed used for stabilizing andleveling leg members.

FIG. 9 illustrates further the rail system stabilizing and leveling barused for adjustable legs. Each outer rail is drilled and a 1 inch nut iswelded into place using uniform spacing. The nuts are placed 3 feet 8½inches apart on the outer rails only. One inch in diameter all threadmaterial bolt, as shown in FIG. 9A, is used to stabilize and level thedeck rail frame assembly. Each stabilizer bar is equipped for use with ahand drill to be screwed into place at any height for leveling of thedeck.

FIG. 10 illustrates the use of 3 inch in diameter PVC pipe used as railcarrier system. Each PVC pipe is set up in typical 4 foot spacing and isattached to the recreational vehicle model frame. In FIG. 10A the PVCpipe is 3 inches in diameter and, for our invention, is 100 inches long,however each pipe length will be determined by the width of the vehiclein use. Each pipe is attached to the vehicle frame with a bracket boltedin place; this is further illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 illustrates the PVC pipe carrier brackets in detail. Eachbracket is made from 1/16 inch thick metal material and is made with a 3inch diameter hole for the PVC pipe to slide into. In addition to the 3inch hole 2 smaller ¾ inch holes are drilled at the top of bracket forthe bracket to be bolted to the frame of the recreational vehicle asshown in FIG. 11C. A third ¾ inch hole is also drilled for a small metalplate, 5 inches wide and 2 inches high, used to stabilize the PVC pipeand prevent slippage shown in FIG. 11A.

FIGS. 12, 12A, and 12B illustrates how the rail carrier bracket systemis mounted to the existing metal frame of the vehicle. FIG. 12Aillustrates how pipe spacers are used to mount bracket to existing frameto eliminate any vibrations during transport. The bracket is then boltedsecurely using self tapping bolts. The PVC pipe is slid into place and asmall cut is made for the plate (B) to prevent slippage of pipe carrier.

FIG. 13 illustrates drawer box cover and framing details and dimensions.Two “I” beams are bolted to existing frame of vehicle 4 feet ½ inchapart from each other to be used as a drawer for stowage of flooringmaterials. Each “I” beam has a ⅝ inch all thread bolt material welded tothe outside of the beam extending past the front and rear of beam forthe box cover to attach as shown in FIG. 13B. Each “I” beam is 8 incheshigh and 6 feet long. The box cover is constructed of wood painted blackwith its dimensions being 4 feet 7 inches in width, 9¼ inches high and9½ inches deep with 2 holes drilled in front spaced 4 feet 1⅝ inchesapart and slid onto exposed all thread material and secured with ⅝ inchwing nuts as shown in FIG. 13. The box cover is constructed and designedto cover and secure the materials that is stored in the drawer. In likemanner, the rear of the drawer is covered in the same fashion as thefront as shown in FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 illustrates the materials that are being stored in the drawerduring transport. The first layer is the 4 units of 4 feet wide and 7feet 6 inches long sheets of plywood; this is used as the second layerof deck flooring (FIG. 14A) Then placed directly on top and placed in anorderly manner 20 units of 8 feet long and 8¾ inch wide aluminum deckingthat is used as the first layer of deck flooring material (FIG. 14B).

FIG.15 illustrates the use of the drawer box cover and how it isattached to drawer I beams using wing nuts to secure it. The wing nutsalso allow for easy removal.

FIG. 16 further illustrates the box carrier drawer cover is slid over Ibeams and all thread material that is welded to outside of each I beamand held securely in place with wing nuts designed for ease of use.

FIG. 17 illustrates the use of the 20 units of 8 feet long by 8¾ inchwide aluminum decking material placed in a horizontal position with thelongest side from left to right of deck, this is the first layer of deckflooring. This aluminum decking was utilized in this invention for astronger more stable surface than most wood only decking material.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the use of the plywood flooring layout.The 4 units of 4 feet wide and 7 feet 6 inch long sheets of ½ inch thickplywood are placed in a horizontal position with the longest side placedfront to back for extra support. All materials were designed, in thisinvention, for ease of placement and removal and storage all done by oneperson.

FIG. 19 illustrates the use of an outdoor type carpet trimmed to fitdeck in the final stage of set up. The carpet was used in this inventionfor ease and beautifying the deck. The carpet size and color will bedetermined by the actual size of deck and color of recreational vehicle.

FIGS. 20, 20A, and 20B further illustrates the layout of the stabilizerbars used to level the deck assembly.

FIG. on page 21 illustrates the final view of the Deck in a Drawerinvention. The stabilizer bars are decoratively covered with a 1¼ inchin diameter 3 feet long PVC tube and cap (FIG 21A). The invention of thedecorative stabilizer bar covers also serves as a decorative pole foruse with a decorative plastic chain to accent the finished deck as adecorative enclosure. This invention also represents a way to use theexisting awning system of the recreational vehicle. The poles of theawning are attached to the deck using the corner stabilizing bars.

In a typical commercial embodiment of this invention, the floor platformmay be any size as determined by the size of the recreational vehicle itis attached to. Structural materials were chosen to conserve weight andease of operation and assembly. The leg and stabilizer bar members areadjustable to any vertical position to accommodate for multiple terrainapplications. In a retracted and stowed position the deck and drawerassemblies add no additional width or length to the vehicle. All carriercomponents are kept with the dimensions of the recreational vehicle tobe safely and securely transported from place to place. Because of theease of use and light weight of this invention it is designed to beoperated and assembled by one person in a minimal amount of time (about15 minutes) from a stowed position to a fully functional deck.

1. A sliding, retractable and easily assembled deck for use with traveltrailers and camping vehicles and the like Comprising: A sliding,retractable railing system consisting substantially of; five horizontalrails that are able to be slid in and out of the rail carrier supportsystem; a system of adjustable legs used to support the deck for usewith any type of terrain (sloping, wet, gravel, or flat); each outsiderail is drilled and a nut welded into position for the ease of using allthread bolts as the leg system; a decorative face plate completing therail frame of the deck.
 2. The invention of claim 1, where in saidadjustable leg system means for adjusting the length of the legs.
 3. Theinvention of claim 1, including the use of rail carrier support systemfor the railing system includes attachment of PVC pipe and hangingbrackets to the frame of the recreational vehicle for stowage of thedeck railing system.
 4. The invention of claim 3, including rail carriersystem hanging brackets means brackets made to hold PVC piping of thecarrier system.
 5. The invention of claim 3, including PVC piping meansactual piping to hold stowed rail system of deck.
 6. The invention ofclaim 3, including stowage means the railing system in storage.
 7. Aportable swivel trailer jack is used to pull deck railing system from astorage position to an extended position with minimal effort from 1person.
 8. The invention of claim 7, including swivel trailer jack meansfor attachment to center railing frame to pull to full extension.
 9. Theinvention of claim 8, swivel trailer jack is on a wheel for ease ofoperation.
 10. The invention of claim 7, including 1 person with minimaleffort means the easy operation in sliding out the railing system frame.11. A flooring system comprised of two layers of support materialsconsisting of: aluminum decking as the first layer and ½ inch plywood asthe second layer.
 12. The invention of claim 11, including aluminumdecking means 8 feet by 8¾ inch sheets of aluminum decking material foruse on first layer to assemble the deck flooring.
 13. The invention ofclaim 11, including ½ inch sheets of plywood means 7 feet 6 inch by 4feet sheets of plywood for use on the second layer of flooring for flatand even deck surface.
 14. A drawer assembly attached to undercarriageof said recreational vehicle for use of stowage of said flooringmaterials and safe and secure transportation of said decking materials.15. The invention of claim 14, including attached to undercarriage meanstwo I beams attached to frame of recreational vehicle for use of storageof decking materials.
 16. The invention of claim 15, including two Ibeams means metal beams in the shape of the letter I are used to slidematerials in like a drawer.
 17. A drawer cover box is used to concealthe drawer assembly for safety and vanity.
 18. The invention of claim17, including vanity means to keep the appearance of the recreationalvehicle nice and neat completely concealing the drawer assembly.
 19. Theinvention of claim 17, including safety means all drawer contents willtravel and be kept secure without any danger of falling out duringtransportation.
 20. A decorative PVC cover and cap is used to disguisethe top of the all thread bolt legs on the upper side of the deck. 21.The invention in claim 20, including decorative means to conceal, at thesame time make it look good.
 22. A carpet is used to cover flooring as afinishing touch.
 23. The assembly of the invention of claims 1-22,assembly of the deck from start to finish is done with one person andonly takes 15 minutes to complete from a stored position to a fullyextended and assembled deck.